Illuminated table



Aug- 17, 1937- s. J. cHAKow 2,090,248

ILLUMINATED TABLE Filed Jan. 2, 1936 yg/vla Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNiTEo erase ILLUMNATlEll)l TABLE Sig il. Chalzow, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Palmer House Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application `anuary 2, 1936, Serial No. 57,147

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an article of furniture and has for one object to provide a table which is in part illuminated from below and which may be readily formed of glass.

Another object is to provide in connection, with a glass topped table illuminating means for illuminating a portion of the top and means for diffusing the light coming from below.

Another object is to provide in connection with an illuminated glass topped table means whereby light may be readily projected from below and whereby the light source is concealed, both from above and from below.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a generally vertical cross sectional View;

Figure 3 is a transverse, generally horizontal sectional detail, taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional detail on an enlarged scale, showing in detail the means for attaching the table top to the table base.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawing.

The base is formed of a member I which may readily be made circular or of any other desired shape. As shown it is circular. The invention is, of course, not limited to any particular shape of base. The base may be supported on a plurality of rounded, floor-contacting members 2. Projecting upwardly from the base, secured to it in any desirable manner, is a hollow column 3. Formed in the column are 40 a plurality of extended, cut away portions or slots 4 which leave relatively narrow and generally vertically extended spaces 5 in the hollow column.

Welded or otherwise secured to the upper end of the column t is a closing plate 6 which is 45 perforated as at 'I to receive an attaching means. A felt or other cushioning material 8 may be positioned on the upper surface of the plate 6. A table top 9, preferably formed of glass, is positioned upon the plate 6 and directly in contact 0 with the felt or other cushioning member 8. The table tcp may be of any desired shape, although as shown it is generally rectangular. It is perforated as at Ill. A fastening member II rests upon the table top adjacent the perforation Ill 55 and'may be separated from the table top by a piece of felt or other cushioning material I2. The fastening member II is provided with a hollow, interiorly threaded, downwardly projecting member I3 which extends through the perforation and may extend into a perforation 'I in 5 the plate t. Received in the hollow of the member I3 is a fastening screw I4 which preferably has a head I5 of angular cross section. A washer it may be positioned about the screw I4 and bears upon the inner face of the plate 6. As a T10 means for supporting any desired article of use or ornament upon the table, a cup-shaped member il is provided. It is positioned upon the attaching member I I and is held in place thereon by means of a screw I8 which engages a wash-V15 er I9 and is itself screwed into the member II. While any ornamental or useful device may be thus attached to the table, in the particular form shown an ash tray 20 is removably positioned within the shell or support I'I.

Positioned about the upper portion of the co1- umn 3 is a flaring opaque light-enclosing member 2i. This member extends from a point below the beginning of the slots 4, upwardly and outwardly, and contacts the bottom of the table 25 top 9. It may be provided about its contacting edge with a flange 22.

A lightsocket 23 is attached to a plug 24 which is removably held in place in the column 3 by one or more set screws 25. A wire enclosing tube, conduit or other member 26 extends from the light socket 23, through the plug 2li and downwardly to carry a plug member 2l, which is suitably shaped and positioned to mate with a plug member 28 connected to a flexible conduit 29 to the outer end of which is secured a plug 30 suitable to be plugged into a wall or other socket to be connected to a source of electric current. Removably seated in the socket 23 is a light bulb 3|, of any desired shape and color.

While the table top 8 may be of any size, shape or color and may be of any desired type of surface finish, ornamental or otherwise, one suitable arrangement is shown herewith. That portion of the table top which lies above the open upper end of the shell 2l is sand blasted or otherwise roughened, as for example at 32, as shown in Figure l. This sand blasting may be on both the top or bottom surface of the table top or may be on either. While this treatment may be widely Varied, in general it is desirable to give such treatment to that portion of the table top which lies over the shell 2| that the glass is translucent but not transparent. This treatment has the dual purpose of di'using the light which passes upward fromthe light source 3l and of making it impossible to see through the table top and to see the details of the light source. While sand blasting or other treatment of the 5 glass top has been suggested, it is to be understood that a similar result could be accomplished by inserting or applying some diffusing member or substance. Thus a diffusing, translucent mask might be placed above or below the table top. For most purposes, however, it is desirable so to treat the table top that it acts as its own diffusing member.

Ordinarily it has been found that if the entire under surface of the table top is sand blasted, an attractive effect is produced and only that portion of the upper surface which lies over the open upper end of the shell 2l is sand blasted. Also a pleasant ornamental effect is achieved by sand blasting a strip about the edge of the table top, as shown in Figure 1 at 33.

I claim: 1. In combination in a table, a glass plate, said plate comprising a top for said table, means for supporting and illuminating the same from bei low, said means comprising a hollow opaque pedestal member, means on said member for receiving said table top, said pedestal provided adjacent its upperend with a plurality of cut away portions, a light source positioned within said pedestal to shine through said cut away portions, a reflecting and enclosing member positioned about the upper end of said pedestal and saidlight vsource said reflector contacting said glass plate,

said reflector defining an illuminated zone of said table top, the table top vbeing translucent throughout such zone the glass top extending laterally substantially beyond the reflector.

2. In combination in a table, a glass top, means for supporting and illuminating the same from 40 below, said means comprising a hollow opaque pedestalmember closed at its upper end, means on said member for receiving said table top directly, said pedestal provided in its sides adjacent its upper end with a plurality of cut away portions, a light source positioned within said pedestal to shine through said cutV away portions, an outwardly flaring, upwardly facing reflecting and enclosing member positioned about the upper end of said pedestal and said light source, said reflector being opaque and defining an illuminated zone of said table top, the table top being translucent throughout such zone.

` 3. In combination in a table, a glass top, means for supporting and illuminating the same from VVV,55 below, said means comprising an opaque generally tubular pedestal member closed at its upper end, means on said member for receiving said table top directly, said pedestal provided adjacent its upper end with a plurality of cut away portions, a light source positioned within said pedestal to shine through said cut away portions, an

- outwardly flaring, upwardly facing reflecting and enclosing member positioned about the upper end of said pedestal and said light source, said reflector defining an illuminated zone of said table top, the table top being translucent throughout such zone.

4. In combination in a table, a generally transparent table top formed of a plate of glass, an

.70 opaque support member comprising a laterally i extended base portion, a generally vertically extended hollow member secured to said base portion, said support member secured to the table top, a flaring reflector positioned beneath said ,75 table, and a light source removably positioned within said reflector, that portion of the table top above said reflector being translucent and not transparent, the table top extending laterally substantially beyond the reflector.

5. In combination in a table, a generally trans- 5 parent table top comprising a single sheet-like member, an opaque support member comprising a laterally extended base portion, a generally vertically extended hollow member secured to said base portion, said support member secured to the l0 table top, a flaring reflector positioned beneath said table with its Widest portion toward the bottom of said table'and in contact with said sheetlike member, and a light source removably positioned within said reector, that portion of the l5 table top above said reflector beingtranslucent and not transparent, the table top extending laterally substantially beyond the reflector.

6. In combination in a table, a self sustaining glass top, said glass top comprising in itself the 20 entire table top, means for supporting and illuminating said top from below, comprising a hollow opaque pedestal member', an outwardly flaring, upwardly facing reflecting member, positioned about the upper end of said pedestal, beneathV 25 said table top portions of said pedestal being cut away Within said reflector, and portions of said pedestal extending upwardly to said table top and being secured directly thereto, and a light source removably positioned within said pedestal to 30 shine through said cut away portions, that portion of the table top above said reflector being translucent and not transparent.

'7. Incombination in a table, a glass plate, said glass plate being self sustaining and comprising-35 in itself the entire table top, means for supporting and illuminating said top from below comprising a hollow opaque pedestal member, an `outwardly flaring, upwardly facing reflecting member, positioned about the upper end of saidv40 pedestal, beneath and in contact with the lower' surface of said table top portions of said pedestal being cut away within said reflector, and portions of said pedestal extending upwardly t0 said table top and being secured thereto, and a `45 light source removably positioned within said"v` pedestal to shine through said cut away portions, that portion of the table top above said reflector being translucent and not transparent.

8. In combination in a table structure, a glass 50 plate, self sustaining and comprisingin itself" the entire table top, a perforation generally centrally of said table, an opaque hollow pedestal contacting said table and a fastening member positioned within the said perforation in the said 55 table top and secured to .saidl pedestal, an up-I wardly faced reflector surrounding an upper portion of said pedestal, said pedestal provided with cut away parts within 'said reflector, a light ed above said glass top and provided with a hol-g ,70'

low depending portion extending through the perforation of said pedestal closure and means for securing the two together, said pedestal provided in its sides adjacent its upper end with a plurality of cut away portions. a light Vsource positionedgr within said pedestal to shine through said cut away portions, an outwardly flaring, upwardly facing reflecting and enclosing member positioned about the upper end of said pedestal and said light source, said reflector being opaque and defining an illuminated zone of said table top, the table top being translucent throughout such zone.

10. In combination in a table, a glass plate, said glass plate comprising in itself substantially the entire table top, means for supporting and illuminating said top from below comprising a hollow opaque pedestal member, an outwardly flaring, upwardly facing reecting member, positioned about the upper end of said pedestal, beneath and in contact with the lower surface of said table top, portions of said pedestal being cut away within said reflector and portions of said pedestal extending upwardly to said table top and being secured thereto, and a light source removably positioned within said pedestal to shine through said cut away portions, that portion of the table top above said reflector being trans lucent and not transparent, and means for securing said plate to said table top, said means comprising a plate-like member positioned on top of said glass plate, a member extending downwardly from said plate and engaging a portion of said pedestal.

11. In -combination in a table a translucent top portion formed of a single sheet of translucent material, an opaque pedestal positioned below and attached to said top, a light source within said pedestal, openings in the sides of said pedesstal, an opaque reflector surrounding said openings flaring upwardly and in contact with the bottom surface of the top, means for closing the upper end of said pedestal to prevent the passing of light therethrough, a combined means securing said pedestal to said top, said means comprising a retaining plate on the upper surface of said top, a member projecting downwardly therefrom through said plate and secured to the closure of the upper end of said pedestal.

SIG J. CHAKOW. 

